2013 ANNUAL REPORT CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY Development and Growth Control Group Leader Marco Milán Postdoctoral Fellows Najate Benhra Marta Clemente Andrés Dekanty Juan Manuel Murillo Mariana Muzzopappa Lab Technician Mercedes San Miguel Research Assistant Lidia Pérez Msc Student Aleix Puig PhD Students Lara Barrio Laura Boulan Ana Patricia Ferreira Gonzalo Quiroga Carles Recasens Programme Technician Ainoa Olza Visiting Students Xiao Lu Lada Murcia HIGHLIGHTS The antagonistic actions of the steroid hormone ecdysone and the conserved insulin/IGF signalling pathway regulate systemic growth and modulate final body size in Drosophila. We have identified the molecular mechanism that underlies the crosstalk between these two hormones. Genomic instability has been observed in practically all sporadic carcinomas. We have generated a Drosophila model in our lab that unravels a general and rapid tumorigenic potential of genomic instability in epithelial cells, as opposed to its proposed role as a source of mutability to select specific tumour-prone aneuploid cells. PUBLICATIONS Boulan L, Martín D and Milán M. bantam miRNA Promotes Systemic Growth by Connecting Insulin Signaling and Ecdysone Production. Curr Biol, 23 (6), 473-8 (2013) Dekanty A and Milán M. Aneuploidy, cell delamination and tumorigenesis in Drosophila epithelia. Cell Cycle, 12 (5), 728 – 731 (2013) IRB BARCELONA 2013 ANNUAL REPORT Rubio M, Montañez R, Perez L, Milan M and Belles X. Regulation of atrophin by both strands of the mir-8 precursor. Insect Biochem Molec, 43 (11), 1009-14 (2013) COLLABORATIONS Glycogen metabolism and aging in Drosophila Joan Guinovart, IRB Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain) p38 signaling in Drosophila Angel Nebreda, IRB Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain) miRNAs and systemic growth David Martín, Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, IBE (Barcelona, Spain) miRNAs in Blatella Xavier Belles, Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, IBE (Barcelona, Spain) PHD THESES Systemic growth control in Drosophila: A new role for bantam miRNA in the crosstalk between insulin signaling and the steroid hormone ecdysone Laura Boulan (Universitat de Barcelona) Thesis director: Marco Milán Honors: Excellent Cum Laude RESEARCH PROJECTS Bordes de compartimentos en el ala de Drosophila organizadores de crecimiento y bordes de afinidad Proyectos Investigación Fundamental, BFU2010-21123 Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO), 2011-2013 Principal investigator: Marco Milán Development and growth control lab Grups Recerca Reconeguts, 2009 SGR 5 Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR), 2009-2013 Principal investigator: Marco Milán From genes to shape: analysis of morphogenesis in Drosophila and vertebrates Consolider, CSD2007-00008 Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO), 2008-2013 Principal investigator: Marco Milán